Hinge mechanism for lighting fixtures



'Nov, 15, 1938. L. CQDOANE HINGE MECHANISM FOR LIGHTING FIXTURES Filed May 29, 1957 [ii -E 4; 26

36 I2 INVENTOR Leroy 6. Dam/v5.

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES HINGE MECHANISM FOR LIGHTING FIXTURES Leroy C. DoaneQMeriden, Conn, assignor to The Miller Company, Meriden, Conn.,.a corporation of Connecticut Application May 29, 1937, Serial No. 145,427

'5 Claims.

The present invention relates to lighting fixtures and is more particularly directedto hinge mechanism for lighting fixtures of the ceiling type.

The present invention contemplates lighting fixtures having downwardly depending walls to receive a shade supporting band and recessed to receive a hinge element carried by the band. The band may be a continuous or split band and includes means pivotally connecting it to the frame to permit it to be suspended in open position.

According to the present invention the band is formed with hinge knuckle such as a channel and the hinge element constitutes a pin or pintle supported in the channel and about which the band. may swing, the pin also serving as an alining element when a split band is used.

The accompanying drawing shows, for purposes of illustrating the present invention, an embodiment in which the invention may take form, it being understood that the drawing is illustrative of the invention rather than limiting the same.

In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view partially fragmentary to show the assembled fixture and relative relation of parts for assembly;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of one end of the fixture showing the hinge support; and

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, a substantially horizontal frame is indicated by the reference character 2. The frame is generally rectangular, though other shapes may be used and includes depending side walls 4 and 6 and end walls 8 and I ll, the end walls being turned inwardly as at I2 to define a rectangular face opening [4, and also provide an external finish to the fixture.

There is provided in side wall 6 a recess 16 for supporting one end of a hinge pin or pintle l8, and wall 4 is provided with longitudinal groove 20 terminating in a recess IQ for supporting the other end of the pin l8. As pin 18 is wider than the face opening hi, it is positioned by placing one end in recess l8 and moving the other end diagonally in groove 20 to recess l9 (Fig. 4)

The shade '22 may have any desired shape and as shown is provided with a rectangular flange 24 adapted to be received in a supporting band 28. The band 26 is formed at one end with a hinge knuckle such as channel 28 for engaging the hinge pin l8, it being understood that other forms of knuckles may be used. The band 28 may be split as at 30 to permit it to be sprung open to insert flange 24 of shade 22 and when closed to embrace same, and when closed pin l8 serves as an alining and holding member for the split band.

5 When hinge pin I8 is placed in hinge knuckle or channel 28, the band and frame may be hingedly connected by placing one end of pin ill in recess [6 with the other end swung diagonally forward (Fig. 1) until it comes within the periphery of face opening [4, whereupon it may be raised and swung rearwardly in groove 28 until it alines with recess I9. Thus positioned the shade will be suspended in open position as shown by dotted outline Fig. 2, whereupon it may be pivoted 15 upwardly, positioning the entire band 20 within the depending walls of frame 2. The band is provided at the end opposite the hinge with a slot 32 into which a latch member 34 may be rotated by actuating bolt 36 carried in wall [2 to 20 lock the shade in position.

There is also provided a supporting plate 38 which could be integral with frame 2 but as shown it constitutes a separate member screwthreadedly attached thereto. Depending from the lower face of plate 38 is a clamp 40 preferably formed of a strip of resilient metal secured to plate 38 as by rivets 4|. When shade 22 is raised into position, band 28 will tend to raise clamp 40 parallel to the supporting plate 3 8 30 whereby the downward bias of clamp 40 will prevent chatter of the frame due to vibration such as when the device is mounted in a vehicle. A second clamp of like nature may be provided to bias the opposite end of the band downwardly 35 and various modifications and changes being 45 possible, I do not otherwise limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

I claim:

1. A lighting fixture comprising a substantially horizontal frame having end and side walls, one 50 wall having an interior recess and the opposite Wall a groove terminating in a recess, a shade, a band for the shade receivable in said frame, and a hinge connection between the band and frame comprising a, pin carried by the band and 55 supported in said recesses, said pin being positioned by diagonal movement in the groove.

2. A lighting fixture comprising a. substantially horizontal frame having end and side walls, one wall having an interior recess and the opposite wall a groove terminating in a recess, a shade, a band for the shade receivable in ;the. frame, said band havinga channel therein and. a hinge connection between the band and frame comprising a pin carried in said channel and supported in said recesses, said pin being positioned by diagonal movement in then-groove.

3. A lighting fixture comprising a substantially horizontal frame having end. and side walls, one wall having a recess and the opposite wall a groove terminating in a recess, a shade, a split band for the shade adaptable when open to receive the shade and when closed-to embrace H the shade, a pin for alining the splitband in,

closed position, said pin being supportable in said recesses and positioned by diagonal movement in said grove to hingedly connect theeframeand band.

horizontal frame having end and side walls, one of the side walls having an internal recess and theiother a groove terminating in a recess, a shade having a rectangular flange, a rectangular band for. carrying saidshade receivable into said frame, one end of saidband being split and having a channel therein, a pin carried in said channel and projecting'beyond the ends thereof, said pin aligning the ends of the bands and being supportable in said recesses by diagonal movement in-said groove to hingedly connect the frame and band.

LEROY C. DOAN'E. 

